美国中部美中协会

?? The U.S. Heartland China Association (USHCA) is proud to once again present the Heartland Chinese Teacher Award in recognition of the many extraordinary and dedicated Chinese language teachers in our region. Five outstanding Finalists will be honored during a special virtual Award Ceremony on February 22nd at 11:00 am CT. ????We invite everyone to register here (https://bit.ly/41dFkdX), and join us in celebrating the outstanding achievements of these truly deserving educators! ?HCTA Finalist Spotlight? Yuqi Zhao Forest Hills Public Schools Grand Rapids, Michigan Yuqi Zhao has been a Chinese immersion teacher at Northern Trails 5/6 School since 2013, inspiring young learners in a 5th-grade classroom in West Michigan. She earned a Master of Arts in Teaching and Curriculum from Michigan State University and holds a Michigan Professional Teaching Certificate for K-12 Foreign Language (Chinese) and Elementary K-5 All Subjects. Passionate about language immersion, she developed the 5th-grade Chinese immersion curriculum and employs total immersion strategies to enhance students' listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Yuqi fosters a dynamic, student-centered classroom where learning comes to life through interactive lessons, hands-on activities, and cultural projects. To further enrich Chinese language learning and cultural appreciation, she has led the school’s annual Chinese New Year celebration and facilitated biannual cultural exchange trips to China for students and their families.

?? The U.S. Heartland China Association (USHCA) is proud to once again present the Heartland Chinese Teacher Award in recognition of the many extraordinary and dedicated Chinese language teachers in our region. Five outstanding Finalists will be honored during a special virtual Award Ceremony on February 22nd at 11:00 am CT. ????We invite everyone to register here (https://bit.ly/41dFkdX), and join us in celebrating the outstanding achievements of these truly deserving educators! ?HCTA Finalist Spotlight? Ji Xiang Intercultural Montessori Language School Chicago, Illinois Ji Xiang, Director of the Chinese Program and Lead Chinese Teacher for 4th to 8th grades at Intercultural Montessori Language School in Chicago, has dedicated 14 years to promoting Chinese language and culture while fostering cross-cultural exchanges. Holding a master’s degree in Education from Southwestern College, she has expanded the Chinese program from its humble beginnings to a thriving department with high student achievement, boasting a 95% Chinese exam pass rate. Under her leadership, the school established a sister school partnership with Hangzhou Chongwen Century City Experimental School, leading to transformative student exchanges. She has organized numerous cultural events, including annual Spring Festival celebrations and performances like the Tai Chi Chinese Fan Dance. Her students have showcased their talents at high-profile events, including the "Celebration of 40 Years of Diplomatic Relations Between China and the U.S." In 2020, she spearheaded a "Support Wuhan" fundraiser, raising $4,000 and donating 6,000 masks, earning recognition from CBS and Chinese media. Named a "Sino-U.S. Friendship Ambassador" in 2022, she is admired for her passion, dedication, and unwavering commitment to her students, many of whom achieve advanced Chinese proficiency under her guidance. In 2024, she led a 10-day China study tour as part of President Xi’s YES Program and hosted the first student exchange from China during Thanksgiving. Her tireless efforts to build bridges between Chinese and American youth earned her the prestigious “Gold Medal Chinese Teacher Beloved by American Students.”

?? The U.S. Heartland China Association (USHCA) is proud to once again present the Heartland Chinese Teacher Award in recognition of the many extraordinary and dedicated Chinese language teachers in our region. Five outstanding Finalists will be honored during a special virtual Award Ceremony on February 22nd at 11:00 am CT. ????We invite everyone to register here (https://bit.ly/41dFkdX), and join us in celebrating the outstanding achievements of these truly deserving educators! ?HCTA Finalist Spotlight? Hai Zheng Olefsky St. Stephen’s Episcopal School Austin, Texas Hai Zheng Olefsky has been teaching Chinese language and culture for over 25 years. Since 1999, she has served as Chair of Chinese Studies and Associate Director of the International Program at St. Stephen’s Episcopal School in Austin, TX. A CLASS board member, she has been awarded the endowed Master Teaching Chair for Critical Languages at SSES three times. She is also the founding advisor of the National Chinese Honor Society’s St. Stephen’s chapter. Zheng has received numerous accolades, including the CLASS 30th Anniversary Service Award (2018) and the inaugural Star Award from the Greater Houston Chinese Speech Competition (2019). She has built outreach programs, partnered with the Asian American Culture Center, and founded the school’s Chinese Language and Culture Club. Her students have excelled in competitions such as 汉语桥 (Chinese Bridge) and the U.S. National Chinese Speech Contest. She was recently a guest speaker at the National Chinese Language Conference, presenting on 3D-printed mooncakes as an innovative language-learning tool. She has also presented at major conferences, including TFLA, and CLTA-Texas. Selected by Ted Yao, author of Integrated Chinese, she presented at the Chinese Instructional Material Conference in Hawaii. She was among the first teachers trained at the pioneering Summer Institute for Teaching Chinese at the University of Pennsylvania.

?? The U.S. Heartland China Association (USHCA) is proud to once again present the Heartland Chinese Teacher Award in recognition of the many extraordinary and dedicated Chinese language teachers in our region. Five outstanding Finalists will be honored during a special virtual Award Ceremony on February 22nd at 11:00 am CT. ????We invite everyone to register here (https://bit.ly/41dFkdX), and join us in celebrating the outstanding achievements of these truly deserving educators! ?HCTA Finalist Spotlight? Haiyun Lu Fountain Valley School Milwaukee, Wisconsin Haiyun has been an educator since 1993. She is a certified Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) teacher from Brown University and holds a certification in Advanced Education Leadership from Harvard University. She is passionate about employing Acquisition-Driven Instruction (ADI) in her classes, integrating mindfulness into education, and bridging gaps between international students and mainstream society. Haiyun is a highly sought-after ADI trainer, both nationally and internationally. She is the co-founder of the Comprehensible Midwest Conference, Ignite Chinese, and Learn Together Academy. Additionally, she is a columnist for Intrepid Ed News and an advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion. As a blogger and writer, she has authored 16 storybooks in Mandarin. When she is not teaching, Haiyun enjoys hiking, meditating, reading, writing, drinking tea with friends, sharing meals with family, and watching her son play video games.

?? The U.S. Heartland China Association (USHCA) is proud to once again present the Heartland Chinese Teacher Award in recognition of the many extraordinary and dedicated Chinese language teachers in our region. Five outstanding Finalists will be honored during a special virtual Award Ceremony on February 22nd at 11:00 am CT. ????We invite everyone to register here (https://bit.ly/41dFkdX), and join us in celebrating the outstanding achievements of these truly deserving educators! ?HCTA Finalist Spotlight? Lin Chen Haas Hall Academy Fayetteville, Arkansas Lin Chen teaches at Haas Hall Academy, a nationally ranked charter school with five campuses serving 7th–12th grade students in Northwest Arkansas. In 2015, she founded the Mandarin program in the district and has since taught high school students at levels 1 through 3, as well as AP. After five years of in-person instruction at the Bentonville campus, Chen transitioned to our Fort Smith campus, where she now provides virtual and hybrid Mandarin instruction to students across all five campuses. In addition to teaching Mandarin, Chen is also a professional visual artist and art instructor at her school. The intersection of language and art has enriched both disciplines in her teaching, allowing students to engage with culture and creativity in a deeper, more meaningful way. Outside of teaching, Chen lives on a small family farm near Fort Smith, Arkansas, with her husband, Kenneth, their dog, Buddy, their cat, Cactus, and about a dozen cows and their babies. In her free time, she enjoys painting, reading, video-chatting with family and friends in China, and spending time in nature with animals.

?? Join us as we recognize excellence in Chinese language teaching in our region, and the many educators–often working with limited resources–who have built cultural bridges through language learning. ?? ?? Click the link below to register for our “Heartland Chinese Language Award Ceremony” on Saturday, February 22, at 11 am CT.

?? Join us as we recognize excellence in Chinese language teaching in our region, and the many educators–often working with limited resources–who have built cultural bridges through language learning. ???? Click the link https://bit.ly/41dFkdX to register today for our “Heartland Chinese Language Award Ceremony” on Saturday, February 22, at 11 am CT.

The U.S. and China, the two largest economies in the world, are deeply interconnected yet face significant competing interests. How do you navigate the complex dynamics between them? Join 1990 Institute for a unique workshop featuring Dr. Yuen Yuen Ang, professor of political economy at Johns Hopkins University, and investment strategist Andy Rothman, experts in U.S.-China relations, as they provide insights into the economic interdependencies, challenges, and opportunities for businesses and policymakers. This session is tailored to educators, policymakers, and professionals seeking to deepen their understanding of global economic trends. This webinar is open to everyone who is interested in this topic. ??? Register now for a session that bridges theory and real-world application! ?? https://lnkd.in/gcfMEvxe – Wednesday, March 5, at 4 pm PT / 7 pm ET. #uschinarelations #globaleconomy #tradepolicy #businessstrategy #economicseducation #1990institute

Join us February 22nd for the 2024 Heartland Chinese Teacher Award Ceremony, as we recognize and celebrate the amazing teachers working to promote continued excellence in Chinese language teaching and cultural appreciation in our communities! Click here to register: https://bit.ly/41dFkdX

Thank you Scott Tackett for leading this important dialogue. As the daughter of a nurse practitioner who served the rural communities in the mountainous region of Southwestern China, I see great benefit in exchanges like this to bring better healthcare services to the rural communities both here in the American Heartland and China. Thank you: Dr. Gordon G. Liu (Dean of Peking University Institute for Global Health and Development), Yingyao Chen (Fudan University), Lizheng Shi (Tulane University), Kim French, Susan Garwood! Join us to learn:https://lnkd.in/g7gMF8H9